Chapter 743: Chapter 743
After all the interviews, Silva also received the FMVP voting results.
It might sound a bit strange, but due to the award ceremony, this is the first award given out in the playoffs.
Hansen averaged 33.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks over 6 finals games, with a shooting percentage of 50.5% and a three-point shooting percentage of 39.2%.
Jokic averaged 18.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, with a shooting percentage of 49.6% and a three-point shooting percentage of 31.5%;
Wade averaged 16 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, with a shooting percentage of 46.1% and a three-point shooting percentage of 36.2%.
The result of the selection was not surprising, Hansen was unanimously elected as the FMVP.
After Silva announced the results, the fans at the scene started chanting Hansen’s name in unison.
Hansen once again received the trophy representing the FMVP honor from Russell.
This time, after giving the trophy to Hansen, Russell held out a hand toward him.
This represented that it was his fifth time presenting this honor to Hansen.
Time flies; what started as an offhand promise between the two has turned into five years in the blink of an eye.
After the cheers subsided, Hansen began his acceptance speech.
"I’m glad you didn’t shout Emperor."
Hansen’s first words, as always, were full of humor.
The venue was also filled with cheers from the fans.
Hansen is indeed not a petty person but rather particular.
"A year ago, few believed that Cleveland could win the championship; before this year’s finals, few believed we could defend our title again.
But we successfully disappointed them, bringing this team once again to the pinnacle."
Nikola, DW, JR, Robert, TT, PJ, Deron, Kyle, Dante, Nene, Dedmon, Norman, Dejounte, Little Derek, each of us did everything we could."
Hansen finished reading everyone’s names, and each name elicited cheers from the audience.
Especially when he got to the last name, Little Jones, who was initially feeling down due to Hansen’s gaze, suddenly became revitalized.
Hansen knew what each of them had contributed!
"We have never been the number one seed, but we’ve always been the champions."
After Hansen uttered his last sentence, confetti was launched into the air, and with his arms spread wide open, the Quicken Loans Arena was filled with cheers reaching up to the sky.
There were no words more thrilling than those.
After the FMVP award ceremony ended, the championship award ceremony also concluded.
But the Cavaliers’ championship moment was not over yet.
Or rather, this was when the real celebration began.
The reporters on site started swiftly gathering around the players to start interviews.
Hansen was completely surrounded.
In the interview, Hansen mentioned many people, including Jokic, Dedmon, and, of course, Wade.
"You’ve all only seen DW’s outstanding performance, but I know how much effort he’s put in behind the scenes."
That not only includes how a player who relied on speed adjusted his play after losing his speed but also his participation in the Breakfast Club, the extra three-point practices every day, and the sacrifices he made on the court; Wade did everything he could do.
And when Hansen mentioned Wade, the reporters looked around and realized that Wade seemed absent from the scene.
After some searching, someone finally found Wade near the advertisement sign.
Wade was sitting there, wearing a championship baseball cap, holding champagne in his left hand and a cigar in his right.
In front of him was the golden championship trophy.
After taking a puff from the cigar, he bit down on it, took the champagne, and then opened his knee brace, pouring the champagne onto his knee.
Champagne for the knee!
Wade was most grateful that his knees held on until the very end.
By the time Hansen finished his interview, most of the players had already left.
Since the victory was at their home court this year, management had already booked the largest nightclub in the area, and most players had gone there.
When Hansen returned to the locker room, he found Griffin and Gilbert waiting for him.
If it was just to discuss the upcoming championship parade, Griffin would have sufficed here.
But with Gilbert present, it was clear that there was another matter.
Or rather, because the public knew that Hansen would not leave Cleveland, no one paid attention to the fact that Hansen’s five-year super-max contract signed in 2013 had a player option this summer.
Hansen could opt-out and then choose to re-sign a five-year maximum contract with the Cavaliers.
Because he completed 8 years of service, this contract would be 30% of the league’s salary cap, with the rising cap making this the largest contract in history.
Griffin stayed mainly to discuss this matter in advance, and Gilbert was present out of respect for Hansen.
After listening to them, Hansen didn’t answer immediately but gestured for them to go to the GM’s office to continue the discussion.
Gilbert and Griffin exchanged a look; Hansen’s reaction gave them a sense of foreboding.
Once they reached the GM’s office, Hansen finally spoke his decision.
"Next season will be my last in Cleveland."
Griffin and Gilbert’s eyes widened in disbelief after hearing that. Read complete versıon only at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝔫𝔢𝔱
"Is there something I did wrong?" Gilbert asked, puzzled.
"No, Daniel, you’ve done everything you could; you’re the best owner in the league." Hansen gave Gilbert a high praise, without even needing to add "one of" to it.